God Is So Good

So I gave my comp to the IT department yesterday with little hope that they would be able to fix it as it seemed to be in serious pain. In the back of my mind I had thoughts of “Here we go, won’t have money to fix this for about 2 months” I was thinking about the bills I have and the looooong list of needs and wants we need to work through. Low and behold, I got a call this morning and they said my computer was fine. I picked it up and now have it back at my desk. I’m back in action….. for free !!

There are many ways of looking at an event like this, the computer wasn’t broken in the beginning, the walk to the IT department jingled the inner workings and got it going again, someone in IT did something to fix it, it was luck, coincidence, karma etc.

For me, I don’t use my head, I just praise God and give Him thanks. It feels good when life goes well or you have a beneficial experience. It feels good to know that God loves you and He is looking after you. The hard part is to think like that all the time, when life isn’t going well, when you feel down or rejected BUT His word tells us that He ALWAYS has our best interests at heart. What a wonderful thought !! What hope that thought can give us !! No matter what is happening, no matter what our eyes see, He is in charge ! He loves us and is looking after us !! If He is with us, who can stand against us !!

“ Oh, how I love my God !!”

Who Are You ?

I will leave this post up for a while. Please send a comment and tell us who you are, how you found this page, what you have read, what you like, don’t like, your testimony, whatever It would be nice to know who it is that pops in and a bit about you.

God Bless You

Guess Its Break Time

I came to work and turned my computer on today and got severe techno moans and groans. Seems it may be some time before I can get it fixed and up and running again. Good time to take a break and spend some time at His feet. Hope to be back soon or find a computer to post on.

Til then God bless you, Gef

“ The Miracle of Hope – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers “

I watched a documentary called “ The Miracle of Hope – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers “

It is about a prison ministry in Angola, Louisiana. There are many great testimonies such as :

“Bishop” Eugene Tanniehill – convicted and imprisoned in1956 at the age of 21. He gave his life to God and was freed after 51 years.

I have had a strong desire to start a prison ministry for some time now. I was looking into it with two Indonesian pastors when I made a comical error. We were speaking Indonesian and I told them that I had wanted to ‘go into prison’ for a long time. They laughed and said they hoped it was to minister.

A man in Australia was charged with having child porn on his laptop. The interesting part was that computer experts could prove that he had not accessed the files in over three years. A man was recently released after spending 27 years in jail for a crime they can now prove he didn’t commit.
An 11 year old boy shot the pregnant fiancé of his father and is expected to be tried as an adult. He could face life in prison.

What sort of response is that ???? 11 year old boys in broken homes have emotional, hormonal and psychological problems. When their fathers buy them ‘youth-model shotguns’ who is to blame when they do something erratic? Why should a 20,30,40,50 year old man sit in jail for something he did when he was 11 years old ?

A more appropriate response in my opinion would be to outlaw firearms or charge the father with irresponsible handling of a fire arm or something more constructive.

Statistics prove beyond a doubt that prisons fail to rehabilitate people. In fact, in some parts of America, the reoffending rate is as high as 80%. Well over the majority of prisoners in American prisons will be released in the next 10 years. What sort of people will they be? Experience tells us they will be angrier, more violent, more alienated and more prone to commit crime than before they went in.

Thousands of children grow up in environments and circumstances that leave them with a huge statistical probability to be dead or in prison before they hit their mid 20s. Greed and consumerism leads to sections of the community being alienated. Those people have very little hope or chance of overcoming the roles society has prepared for them and who is to blame?

So many people end up I prison before they know what they are even doing with their life. By the time they work out it is too late.
The versus read to a person before they are executed in America are :

Genisis 9:6
“Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made man.

Romans 13:1-6
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

We are all sinners. In God’s eyes sin is sin. These are complex issues but one fact is beyond argument…our society is crumbling. Its not working. Consumerism is horrible. Communism doesn’t work…Oh, blessed be the day when we shed these earthly vessels and put on the robes He has prepared for us…but until then, what can you do to create a bit of change ? To bring a bit of love into someone’s life ? To be a mentor to someone ? To build a bit of His kingdom on earth ?

Whatever it is I pray it will be successful beyond your wildest expectations and His name will be glorified to the ends of the earth. Amen

Yearn4God Update

Some friends and I have started a ministry called Yearn4God. We have a website www.yearn4god.com and have been building up our missionary work. Here is an update of what we have planned for 2009. Please keep us in your prayers. GBU

Our main focus has been trying to get our legal status as a foundation solidified. We are now at the point where we have a legally registered foundation and a bank account. The final step is to complete the lawyer’s fees and the process will be complete. This will give us a much stronger status from which to work and we will be able to put assets under the control of the foundation. It also means we can hire staff and legally run a charity, school, church and other operations in Indonesia (with appropriate further paperwork)

Jos has been attending a course on fundraising strategies and we intend to hold a seminar for people associated with Y4G and other interested parties. During the seminar, Jos will share the knowledge he has gained. The seminar will hopefully be some time in March or April.

We have had 2 fellowship since the retreat in November of 2008. One of them was last week (12/3/09). We distributed the results from the spiritual gifting test we did at the retreat. The kids also shared about their dreams and goals and prayed for each other. Krisma gave his salvation testimony and a few others testified about how great God is.

Throughout the year of 2009 we hope to continue having regular fellowships for the participants of the 2007 CHARGED retreat and the 2008 JESUS POWERED retreat as well as other children from Ada Hari Esok and Rumah Sejati orphanages. We are yet to meet and evaluate the possibility of having another retreat this year. A possibility may be to use the money for school fees and hold an over night event within Surabaya.

We have a close relationship with some people who have been working for over a year to begin a school for disadvantaged children. In January, the school opened 2 branches on opposite sides of Surabaya. They have 12 and 15 kindergarten students respectively. The children come mostly from families that survive by collecting and sorting rubbish. Our hope is to provide more information about the school and all involved with the aim of supporting their ministry. There are many areas we could help, from providing education materials, food or medicine, to teacher training and family seminars.

We all have a strong desire to help children, teens and adults with education. The statistics for Indonesia are appalling ! Around 50% of people to not go above a grade 6, primary school education. Our hope is to provide school fees, books, uniforms and subsidy packages. In the medium to long term, we would also like to provide job training and micro credit for teens and adults. A relatively miniscule amount of money can transform a person’s prospects from dismal to hopeful.

I have felt a desire to reach out in a prison ministry and have made some contacts. I am yet to visit a prison but hope to do so soon. As yet I am unaware of the ministry potentials there but I pray a friendly face and perhaps a few necessities can help to spread the light of Jesus. Again, in the medium to long term it would be great to have support and training programs for those leaving prison and the families of those in prison.

All of these thoughts and plans are in our minds and hearts. God wiling, they will blossom into fruit for His kingdom.

God bless you, Y4G team

Race – Part Two

What can we learn from this little illustration?

1) As Paul said, it is not for those that start the race well but for those who run the race to the end well. Being a ‘full on’ Christian is only a good thing if you can maintain your enthusiasm and you don’t give up when you hit some hard going.
2) Just because you can’t see the end of a hardship it does not mean you should give up. You have to push and push and push in the knowledge that he has your best interests at heart.

There was a woman trying to swim the English channel. Her mother was in a small row boat next to her. There came a point when the woman said “Mum, I have to stop, it hurts too much.” Her mother convinced her to keep going saying that they end was close. Not long after the woman complained of cramps and said she had to stop. Her mother convinced her to keep going saying the end was very close. Soon the girl complained that it hurt too much and insisted that she had to stop. The mother gave in and helped her into the boat. She gave her daughter a towel and a cup of tea. The woman looked up and saw that land was a mere 500 meters away. After hours and hours of struggling she had just minutes to go. She said “If I had known the end was so close I would have kept going.”

How many times have we given up when the end was ‘so close’?

3) Those that go too slow are never really in the race. God has huge plans for you !! Are you plodding along in your Christian life thinking it is about going to church or are you seeking His will in every part of your life. Starting slow is fine but you should pick up speed in your walk with God and eventually you will find yourself soaring with Him. We can do more than we ever conceived possible through the power of His spirit in us.
4) Do not use the world’s measure or other people to rate where you are. You may think you are more honest or loving or kind than those around you or than is expected only to find out that they have a bigger handicap than you (more grace/favour) Never be satisfied to be ‘good enough’ always try to be better.
5) The same is true for judging others. You never know how much grace/ favour they have
6) In all, the key is 2Peter 1:3-15….Keep trying to be better

Mother Terasa

“God doesn’t require that we succeed, He only needs us to try”

A Race – Part One

Imagine that you are in a running race for a large prize. There are 50 people who start the race but no one knows how long the race is. The starting signal sounds and some people start running as fast as they can, others set off at a steady pace and a few begin at a walk with the logic that they have no idea how far they will have to go.

Time goes by and the leaders hit a hill. Half way up the hill, most of them have burnt out and give up. Those who are jogging hit the hill and a few give up but most make it over the top. A few of the walkers also give up. The runners go over the top of the hill and continue. Soon night begins to set in and many of the runners stop and find somewhere to sleep. A few continue on into the night.

Those that continue face another hill. They run and run up the hill but the road continues to climb. A few give up and a large group of runners decide to stop as the end can’t be seen in the dark and the hill ‘could go on for hours.’ It is better to wait until light and set out again they reason. Only you and one other runner continue to race.

The top of the hill is just a minute’s jog from where the last runners gave up. You and the other runner continue to run. Soon dawn comes and you both see the finish line a mere 500 meters in the distance. You both get a huge rush of adrenaline and begin to sprint to the finish line. You are neck and neck right up to the last 10 meters. Suddenly the other runner dives and slides across the finish line just one second before you. You are devastated, after running all night you were beaten by just one second.

The judges of the race appear and tell your opponent that he ran a good race but that you have won the race. The other runner complains and states that he was the one to cross the line first. You are also shocked and the two of you believe that the judges have gotten the result terribly mixed up.

The judge then responds by telling you that you had a 2 second handicap going into the race and so have won.

Continued in ‘Part Two’

Skeletons

I was reading a news report about a swimming coach who was charged with having sex with a 15 year old girl. The act took place in the 1970s when the man was in his 30s. He is now 65 years old. Not far away from that there was an article about a Nazi concentration guard who was being sentenced over his role in the running over concentration camps in the 1940s. Yet another article was about a woman who was sentenced for killing her husband in the 90s. An advancement in DNA technology made it possible for her to be convicted.

It made me thank God that I don’t have any skeletons in my closet. I have done so many stupid things in my life but there are none there to ‘haunt’ me. I make a point of confessing all the things my wife ‘needs’ to know. I am honest with her and before we were married I didn’t try to deceive her about who I was and what I had been through in m life. Quite the opposite in fact, When I accepted Jesus, I used the mistakes I had made in the past to add weight to my salvation testimony.

There was one event in my past that had always left me with an uneasy feeling. There was no closure. I wasn’t sure if the other party involved remembered or had forgiven me or still held a grudge. About a year ago I was confronted with it. It wasn’t easy, other people I cared about found out about it and it was an embarrassing time.
Still, I am glad it happened. It was brought into the open and dealt with.

A testimony I heard once related this kind if thing to a rotten tooth. If you ignore it the rot will spread and cause more problems. If you do some superficial cleaning and just cover it up, there is a fair chance you will end up with more problems at a later date. You need to dig out the infection, cut into the sick and healthy skin, root out all that is rotten. It’s a painful process but once it is done you can be sure that the wound will heal cleanly.

I thank God once again that I have never done anything that can come back and destroy my life. All those times I have been tempted, all those chances to do something stupid, all those times I have actually done stupid things and His hand has kept me safe.

I saw a documentary about people in the projects in America. One guy had been to jail several times but the focus of the story was about how he was trying to turn his life around. He got a job, was studying and doing community service work. Then, out of the blue, he was arrested for an old warrant. He faced jail again for something he had done years before. The judge looked at the things he was doing to turn hi life around and decided to dismiss the old charges.

What is your ‘judge’ thinking about you? Does He have cause to be proud of you or for concern ?

Get right with God and stay that way !!

The Battle With Lust

Sex and lust are such private matters. The transition of puberty is a very awkward time for most children/teens. People generally keep their sexual desires and experiences very private. For this very reason, sex is one of the most effective areas to bring people’s walk with God undone.

People guard their sexual sin very carefully and most are confused about what is and isn’t ok when it comes to sex. Is masturbation ok? Are lustful thoughts ok? Is pornography ok? Are sexually explicit conversations ok?

I am not pretending to have all the answers but the bible gives some pretty clear indications :

1 Corinthians 6:12-20
(Contemporary English Version)
12Some of you say, “We can do anything we want to.” But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me. 13You also say, “Food is meant for our bodies, and our bodies are meant for food.” But I tell you that God will destroy them both. We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies. 14God will raise us from death by the same power that he used when he raised our Lord to life.

15Don’t you know that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? Is it right for me to join part of the body of Christ to a prostitute? No, it isn’t! 16Don’t you know that a man who does that becomes part of her body? The Scriptures say, “The two of them will be like one person.” 17But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one in spirit with him.

18Don’t be immoral in matters of sex. That is a sin against your own body in a way that no other sin is. 19You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. 20God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.

God paid for your salvation. He got your mind, body and spirit. If you are doing ‘indecent’ things with your body, you are dishonoring God.

So what is ‘indecent’?…… Imagine that Jesus was standing in the room with you, would you do it? If the answer is ‘no’ then remember, HE IS ALWAYS WITH YOU !

Sex is a gift for married couples. What is ‘ok’ or ‘decent’ by the world’s standard is probably not ok in God’s eyes 90% of the time.

My number one tip for you to win the battle with lust is to find a friend to confide in. If you have a colleague or church friend who you can talk to openly about you struggle with lust, you will be well on the way to winning the battle.

When you confess your sins, repent and ask for forgiveness, they have no power over you. The prayers of a righteous person are powerful. Make yourself accountable to someone, share the burden and don’t endanger eternity for a few seconds of self gratification.

Seek His strength

Salt and Light

The classic anti religion arguments are :

“ Religion has caused most of the wars in history.”
“ Look at the things done in the name of religion, the crusades, stoning etc”
“ People who claim to be religious are hypocrites.”
“ Religious people are arrogant.”

People look at Christians to know what Christ is like. Unfortunately, from what they see, they often don’t feel the need to look much further.

The fact is that we have an extremely important responsibility to represent God on earth. It only takes one mistake to destroy people’s opinion of Christianity. It’s not fair but we have to be pure and righteous so they have no opportunity to reject Him. We know it is not about us being perfect but they don’t. When they see us professing to be Christian but not paying taxes or smoking or lying or cheating or stealing or worshipping idols or being lustful, we have effectively let down God’s name.

One of my favorite stories to illustrate this point is :

A young girl went to work as a maid for a great queen. She worked diligently for one year and then went to see the queen.
She said “Mam, I will be leaving your employment soon.”
The queen replied “But I still need you. You have been a very good employee. Why are you leaving? Am I not paying you enough?”
The girl responded by saying “It is not that Mam. I came to work for you to observe how a Christian lives and treats people. Now I will go and work for a Sheik. From what I observe there and what I have observed here, I will decide if I want to be Christian or Muslim.”

What sort of reflector are you for his love?
Do people ‘see the good deeds you do and come to know your father in heaven?’
What does ‘the world’ see and report about Christians? Is it how much solidarity and caring they see between us?
Is it how generous and loving we are?

We do not have to ‘win’ people’s souls for God through our words and actions but it is very important that we don’t hinder His work either.

“ For it is from our lives, not our words that our religion must be known.” Abraham Lincoln